Google Maps is now requiring users to sign in before they can read more reviews. Clicking options like “See more reviews” or sorting through reviews now triggers a sign-in prompt.
We found this via SER, where the source suggested Google may have made this change to help prevent AI tools, bots, and third parties from scraping Google reviews.
Here is a screenshot of this.
I agree with this theory. Requiring sign-in to access expanded or sorted reviews could be an effective way for Google to limit automated scraping, especially as AI tools increasingly pull review data for summaries and other uses.
Do you agree with the 2 comments below?
…and also to learn more about you through the places you look up on Google Maps. I usually browse Maps without signing in because I don’t want Google to know which shops, hotels, or petrol stations I’m interested in (everybody knows that info will be used sooner or later by google). But now, it seems I can no longer do that.
Just like the post ‘Privacy concerned’ had stated, I’m just seeing this as a move to add to their digital dossier on me or anyone else to package and sell to others!!
Requiring a sign-in now makes it easier for them to create a profile of any of us!